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A survey of New Zealand vapers has found most people started smoking e-cigarettes to quit smoking - and for the majority, it worked.

The online survey, led by Dr Penny Truman from Massey University in 2016, recruited 218 people through vaping and smoking-cessation networks.

Almost all had been smokers, but three quarters no longer smoked, and the remainder significantly reduced their tobacco use. Three had not been smokers before they started vaping, but had not gone on to smoke tobacco.

Most vapers surveyed also waited longer in the morning before vaping than they had when smoking, and generally reduced nicotine levels in their e-cigarette liquid over time.

The results suggest some people switch from smoking to vaping quickly and completely, but others have a longer transition, Truman said.

"Most of the participants had changed the type of vaporiser they used several times. There was also a pattern of moving away from tobacco flavoured e-liquids, experimenting with many different flavours until they found several they liked and then continued to use on an ongoing basis."

The researchers, who included Massey public health Professor Marewa Glover and former director of Action on Smoking and Health (Ash) Trish Fraser, concluded legalising such products would remove a main barrier for smokers who want to switch to vaping.

They called for more randomised studies, including research following new vapers who are attempting to quit smoking. There are around 63,000 daily vapers in New Zealand and an unknown number who vape less regularly.